Our oceans are increasingly polluted by plastic but as yet we do not have enough reliable information about that pollution to enable an agreed credible strategic plan to remediate the pollution to be put in place.
Jon Sanders, the first person to sail single-handedly twice around the world, non-stop and unassisted; is working with Dr Stephen Davis on the No Plastic Oceans project, which will include a circumnavigation aimed at bringing global attention to the presence of plastic in our oceans, the impact of oceanic plastic pollution on marine life and the manner in which plastic is infiltrating our food chain
This voyage and the associated research and dissemination of results are an important step in raising global public awareness of the deteriorating state of our oceans and the potential risk this presents not only to marine creatures but also to human populations.
Current information on plastic pollution in our oceans focuses mainly on micro-plastics with data collected primarily from heavily trafficked shipping routes. The voyage will follow less frequently travelled routes where data is sparse.
The levels of microplastic pollution in the water samples will be objectively assessed using a protocol set down by Curtin University’s Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre led by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Kliti Grice, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an internationally renowned organic geochemist.
The results of such studies can be lost in scientific journals; but in this case, the participation of Jon Sanders making his 11th solo circumnavigation of the globe – never before achieved in the history of our planet – has the potential to raise public awareness.
No Plastic Oceans project serves to attract global public attention to the threat posed by plastic in ocean waters.
The objectives that flow from this goal are to
(1) measure the presence of micro-plastics in ocean surface water;
(2) disseminate those results in conjunction with credible marine institutions;
(3) bring the threat of micro-plastic pollution to the attention of the public worldwide.
Speak to Jon Sanders and Dr Stephen Davis at the 2019 Club Marine Perth International Boat Show
Jon Sanders and Dr Stephen Davis will both be attending the 2019 Club Marine Perth International Boat Show from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd September at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Both will be presenting on the Show’s Lifestyle Stage each day at 1pm, offering an insight to the project and the importance and relevance it has to the world.
Audiences can then speak to Mr Sanders and Dr Davis following their presentations.